France - When it came time to record the Netflix original French-language film, Oxygène, the audio team had quite the challenge in front of them. The premise of the scientific horror film focuses on a scientist, played by French actress Melanie Laurent, who has lost her memory, awakens, trapped in a medical pod and must find her way out before the oxygen levels diminish.
Given the setting, the pod is used for 90 percent of the film and, with its tight quarters, Production Sound Mixer Ken Yasumoto and Boom Operator Josselin Panchout knew they needed a reliable and unobtrusive microphone solution, which they found in DPA Microphones.
Having small, portable, easy-to-use tools became even more important when the film’s director Alex Aja and director of photography

USA - The University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, employs a campus-wide communication system that consists of Riedel's Artist, Bolero and SmartPanels.
The system supports flexible communications and audio transport for live broadcast production of Pitt Athletics events on the ACC Network for ESPN. The decentralised wired and wireless intercom systems enable clear, reliable communications while also providing exceptional flexibility of configuration across campus at all sporting complexes, and multiple studios.
Utilizing multiple Artist digital intercom matrixes, 1200 and 2300 Series SmartPanel user interfaces, and 24 Bolero wireless beltpacks scattered across campus, the Pitt Athletics production team coordinates centralized live sports production for broadcast and streaming. Riedel's Director software coordinates configuration and management of al

UK - On the East coast of Yorkshire, Bridlington is a popular seaside destination for days out and family holidays.
Lacking any major redevelopment for almost three decades, the seafront’s public spaces were in need of regeneration. So in 2019, East Riding of Yorkshire Council embarked on an ambitious £4m project to transform an area between Garrison Square and Regent Gardens, reinvigorating the space with a new, colourful look.
Crucial to the revitalisation plan was the installation of new lighting elements within the communal areas. Lighting design practice, Sutton Vane Associates, was appointed by engineering consultants Sweco to design a lighting scheme that added vibrancy to the site whilst also providing a practical benefit after dark.
To help realise their creative vision for the location, Sutton Vane Associates commissioned outdoor lighting specialis

UK - The hit Starz TV series Outlander has captivated global audiences with its intensely visceral tale centred around time travel. And with the passage of time comes change, which is something that Jon Towler can appreciate as lighting programmer and console operator for the programme.
Towler, of Nineteen Sixtyone began working on Outlander when it debuted in 2013 at the invitation of its HOD gaffer Scott Napie and has been with the programme for all six seasons since. In that time, the show has made a major transition from tungsten and HMI heavy lighting into a rig consisting mostly of LED fixtures.
“Things change, and as technology has advanced, the lighting has transitioned dramatically,” saysTowler. “The biggest surprise to me was how quickly the show embraced LED & wireless DMX. To give you an idea of how dramatically things changed, we st

UK - For the production industry the August Bank Holiday was always going to be the big heave of the re-opening, with Leeds/Reading festival leading the way. That no bad news emerged from the three-day bacchanal means the production industry could give itself a big pat on the back. Not that it was easy, but it was a blast.
“We were all apprehensive,” says Richard Larkum, LD for Biffy Clyro, echoing the sentiments of many. “As it transpired, it was a career defining show.”
Joel Stanley, production manager for Stormzy was equally relieved: “In terms of going from nothing to full-on production it did feel very natural.”
Default sound, IMAG and lights for the main stages came from SSE, CT and Neg Earth respectively. As Stanley observed, “As with Neg Earth and Video Design in our individual production packages, we felt very comfortable and well favoure

Denmark - Motor Stage Automation is a new automation specialist based in Denmark with a strategy to deliver custom and off-the-shelf solutions for entertainment industry clients wanting safe and innovative ways in which to move any element of their shows.
The new start-up launched with an investment of Kinesys Apex 500kg and 1250kg hoists, Kinesys Vector consoles, Mentor controllers and all associated infrastructure, and is a joint venture between Christian Vigsø of Vejen-based rental and dry-hire company, Vigsø, and Blake McNally, who has been involved with numerous creative automation projects, together with Kasper Sønberg who is the venture’s commercial manager.
The two met - initially via LinkedIn - during the lockdown, when both were keen to use the extra time and headspace that this challenging period offered, to enact some positive and productive results

UAE - With offices in Dubai, Sharjah and Doha, NMK Electronics has been appointed L-Acoustics certified provider distributor for the Middle East.
“Our team of pro-audio specialists with decades of experience respond to local demand and also offer technical and design support across the board,” says Dino Drimakis, commercial director at NMK Electronics. “NMK works closely with partners from several market segments of the AV industry. We are thrilled to add a world-leading audio manufacturers to our portfolio. L-Acoustics fits perfectly with our product mix. We also appreciate their drive to consistently innovate and enhance the experience for audiences and end-users. We are proud to bring their innovative technologies to the region.”
NMK’s mission is to increase the demand for high-end audio and to bring the latest technologies to market. To help accomplish

The Netherlands - Alcons has introduced the QRP20, a two-way column array system with high-Q directivity for increased projection control to be used as vertical sound system, for both permanent and portable applications.
It is specifically designed for applications where ultimate fidelity response needs to be projected with wide horizontal and narrow vertical coverage, ideal in acoustically challenging environments, or applications where intelligibility-over-distance is required.
Loaded with the RBN401 4” pro-ribbon driver on a ‘Morpher’ lens, the system offers a very high throw-efficiency and projection control, due to the pro-ribbon’s all-natural cylindrical wavefront.
The QRP’s are powered and controlled by the ALC amplified loudspeaker controller; Through the integrated VHIR processing, audiophile amplifier stages and Signal Integrity Sensing feed
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USA - Chauvet Professional’s new onAir IP series is designed to deliver on location ‘regardless of rain, dust, heat, or snow’. The first of the company's fully IP65-rated series of soft light LED panels, these all-weather fixtures are suited to move from indoor to outdoor projects, including music videos, red carpet events and on location remotes, says Chauvet.
Available in three sizes, the onAir IP offers an effective broadcast lighting solution for a variety of setups, including close ups, as well as projects filmed in small to medium quarters.
All three models in the onAir IP family have a 90+ CRI and equally impressive TM-30 score, as well as +/- Green adjustment, and onboard emulated red-shift control via CRMX wireless control and DMX.
The largest of the three, the onAir IP Panel 2, is a 2x1 format 372W panel that delivers 23,000 peak lumens. Next in s

UK - “It’s a very welcome sight to see the return of The Showman’s Show this year,” says Shaun Pearce, MD of long-standing exhibitor Pearce Hire. “We couldn’t be happier to see the industry getting back on its feet and for us to all be doing what we love.”
Since the re-emergence of the industry from mid-July onwards, Pearce Hire has seen a very busy summer experiencing quite a boom following the extremely difficult conditions of the previous 18 months. “We were back in the thick of things - providing production services to some of our regular summer projects; some of whom were able to stick to their regular timeline; others who had booked dates later than usual to ensure they could go ahead,” explains Shaun.
“It was a pleasure to see these loyal clients return, whilst alongside this we had also taken on a significant amount of new work to help make

UK - Powersoft’s Dynamic Music Distribution (DMD) solution is at the heart of the audio system providing the soundtrack to Kent’s newest sports and entertainment destination.
With Dynamic Music Distribution, Powersoft offers SIs the ability to scale inputs and zones conveniently and efficiently with dynamic routing capabilities embedded on its amplifier platforms. This makes it simple to dynamically route music and other signal sources along with control signals between different zones and across multiple amplifiers – all independently of source location and without the need for a centralised DSP.
Two Mezzo 604 ADs – Powersoft's four-channel, 600W compact amplifier – are powering the entirety of the 250-capacity Matches Sports Bar, Grill & Social, forming the core of a hospitality venue incorporating multiple distinct audio zones and spaces. Tucked away

USA - The Broward Centre for the Performing Arts collaborated with Pro Sound Inc.’s Stage Equipment & Lighting division to create a lighting system featuring Martin Professional fixtures for the newly-renovated Parker Playhouse theatre.
Founded in 1967, the Parker Playhouse is a beloved fixture of the local Fort Lauderdale arts community, hosting a variety of Broadway shows, plays, concerts, dance and educational events for the past 54 years. In 2020, a $30m renovation and restoration project transformed the building from a historical playhouse into a modern live music venue.
Now known as The Parker, the theatre is set to welcome back audiences and host a wide variety of events this fall, from educational children’s shows to rock concerts by artists including Rick Springfield and Lindsey Buckingham. As part of the effort to transform The Parker into a multiface

UK - DiGiCo has announced its participation in the Avnu Alliance. This move to AVB networking and the Milan family, along with a keen focus on how best to integrate Milan into its range of digital mixing consoles, is an ambition the company says is now underway.
Milan has been developed through close cooperation between a number of manufacturers. It builds on a common networking technology to create a link between AV, IT and silicon industries. It is already being used in projects around the world and by manufacturers including Adamson, Biamp, d&b audiotechnik, L-Acoustics, Meyer Sound, Neutrik and RCF.
“DiGiCo is always at the forefront of technology,” comments DiGiCo’s general manager, Austin Freshwater. “We have been looking at the AVB format for some time, and now that the Milan standard and team are making the pro audio integration elements of AVB muc

Thailand - To provide sound and flexibility for the Rose Hall event venue at the headquarters of RS Public Company, Mahajak Development Co deployed a Harman Professional audio solution.
One of Thailand’s top media businesses, RS Public Company has had a significant influence on Thai entertainment culture since 1982. When hosting concerts, radio shows, television events and more, the company uses the 480sq.m Rose Hall located at its headquarters. To accommodate the needs of modern productions, the company requested a flexible, cutting-edge audio system that could easily adapt to a myriad of events.
A spokesperson for Mahajak Development Co said that the installation team was confident that Harman’s audio solutions would deliver impactful sound for all types of events. The team selected a range of JBL Professional, Soundcraft and dbx solutions to provide impactful s

Argentina - Progressive house DJ Hernán Cattáneo looked back at the history of progressive house music in a live concept show called Future Memories at the Teatro Gran Rex in Buenos Aires on 18-19 September.
Lighting designer and director Sergio Lacroix utilised 32 Claypaky Sharpy Plus fixtures to bring the past into the future for a show that represented much more than Cattáneo’s back catalogue.
Classic progressive house music has been termed “a boundless adventure” which takes the listener on a journey to uncharted territory. The four-act Future Memories followed that path with Cattáneo and his colleagues creating different visions for the audience in an environment merging audio and visual elements.
“Accompanying a show of quasi-pure electronics, the visual role was the protagonist to carry the experience forward,” explains La

USA - SJ Lighting created spectacular lighting production designs for four stages and the Main Stage VIP area at the 2021 Miami Rolling Loud Festival which took place over three days / nights at the Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens in Florida, offering 75,000 hip hop fans their first chance to see A$AP Rocky, Post Malone, Travis Scott, and many more artists perform live since March 2020.
On three of these stages, Robe moving lights were integral to the design spec. Ninety-two MegaPointes graced the Ciroc (Main) Stage, while the Audiomack stage featured 66 x MegaPointes and 36 x BMFL Blades, with lighting for both of these supplied by 4Wall’s Miami office.
Twenty-four Spiiders for the DRYP Stage were supplied by New York and Miami based event technology specialist, Technical Arts Group (TAG), together with the other lighting for this space.
SJ Lighting’s pr

USA - PreSonus is now shipping its R65 V2 and R80 V2 active AMT studio monitors. The new monitor speakers feature more extensive control than the original R-series, incorporating the analogue Acoustic Tuning controls from PreSonus’ Eris line.
Included are Low Cutoff, Mid Frequency, and High Frequency controls, as well as a three-position Acoustic Space switch that allows you to compensate for the acoustic results of speaker placement against a wall or in a corner. An upgraded 140W (75W LF + 65W HF) Class A/B power amplifier provides ample headroom and even warmer, smoother overall frequency response for distortion-free, non-fatiguing performance, even at higher volumes.
As with the original R-series, the new R65 V2 and R80 V2 monitors feature a custom-designed, 6.8-square-inch Air Motion Transformer (AMT) tweeter that responds to the subtlest waveforms and high frequ

USA - Glendale, California’s Kinetic Lighting has acquired more than 70 Ayrton Diablo-S fixtures to stock its rental inventory and supply a wide range of productions the company supports. The versatile, feature-rich, 300W profile luminaires are Kinetic’s first Ayrton purchase. Ayrton lighting fixtures are distributed exclusively in North America by ACT Entertainment.
Diablo is the smallest, lightest and most efficient luminaire in its category with a record output of 19,000 lumens in a package weighing less than 22 kg. Diablo-S is especially designed for stage applications and equipped with a monochromatic LED light source that can generate extremely high output and metallic white light calibrated at 7000 K.
“When our ACT rep, Eric Abad demo’d Diablo for us the entire team was blown away – we were really impressed,” recalls David Rosen, president of Kinetic

USA - For The Gather Again Tour, the Eric Church lighting crew selected the new Martin Professional MAC Ultra Performance LED fixtures for an intimate yet large-scale lighting experience.
In support of his new triple album Heart & Soul, Eric Church set out on The Gather Again Tour this fall with the intention to unite fans and celebrate the return of live music. While the shows take place in arena-sized venues, the stage is set up in an intimate, in-the-round style where the audience surrounds the performer from all sides.
Despite being large-scale events, a prominent theme of Eric Church shows is the sense of community and gathering among fans - an aspect that was all the more potent following 18 months of cancelled tours and postponed shows. For the Eric Church lighting team, the main challenge was to design a rig that covered both the audience and the ban

UK - In August, Nigerian Afro-fusion star Burna Boy’s Twice As Tall event was the first in the London O2 Arena’s Welcome Back Show series of live concerts. Sold out with fans hungry for live entertainment, Yamaha Rivage PM10 digital mixing systems helped deliver a much-anticipated, impressive live production.
2021 has been a highly successful year for Burna Boy, winning a Grammy Award for his 2020 Billboard-topping album Twice As Tall, Artiste of the Year at the Global Music Awards Africa and Best International Act at the Black Entertainment Television (BET) Awards. He headed to the O2 Arena with a spectacular show, arriving in a flying saucer and spending much of the performance on a stage projection, surrounded by the audience on three sides.
With music blending Afrobeats, dancehall riddims, reggae, American rap and R&B, the large production included a

UK - A new dance festival called Electric Woodlands took place recently in the idyllic grounds of Bygrave Farm in Baldock. Three bespoke stages, set in lush green landscapes, and a hidden forest provided the backdrop to a who's who of drum & bass, house and bass exponents over an 11-hour period.
Capital Sound, part of the Solotech UK Group, equipped all three stages with PA, the two largest fitted out with premium Martin Audio systems.
The service providers had been introduced to the event by Alex Anderson, a production manager with whom they had worked previously. Capital senior project manager, Martin Connolly reports, “We were then contacted and initially asked to quote on the main stage before extending this to the other two stages.”
The crew worked alongside the event’s main production manager, Catherine Bates, observing sound thresholds set by F1

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